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again： ‘I will wager my head that I will tame you！' Yes； yes； a
score of times you have said so。 In my heart； as I listened； I
have taken up your gage。 And now； dog； you have lost and I am
here to claim the forfeit。〃
His long heavy sword flew from its sheath。 The King； with a howl
of despair； flung his arms round him； and they rolled together
under the table。 Aylward sat with a ghastly face； and his toes
curled with horror at the sight； for he was still new to scenes of
strife and his blood was too cold for such a deed。 When Simon
rose he tossed something into his bag and sheathed his bloody
sword。
〃Come； Samkin； our work is well done；〃 said he。
〃By my hilt； if I had known what it was I would have been less
ready to come with you；〃 said the archer。 〃Could you not have
clapped a sword in his fist and let him take his chance in the
hall？〃
〃Nay； Samkin； if you had such memories as I； you would have wished
that he should die like a sheep and not like a man。 What chance
did he give me when he had the power？ And why should I treat him
better？ But； Holy Virgin； what have we here？〃
At the farther end of the table a woman was standing。 An open
door behind her showed that she had come from the inner room of
the house。 By her tall figure the comrades knew that she was the
same that they had already seen。 Her face had once been fair； but
now was white and haggard with wild dark eyes full of a hopeless
terror and despair。 Slowly she paced up the room； her gaze fixed
not upon the comrades； but upon the dreadful thing beneath the
table。 Then as she stooped and was sure she burst into loud
laughter and clapped her hands。
〃Who shall say there is no God？〃 she cried。 〃Who shall say that
prayer is unavailing？ Great sir； brave sir； let me kiss that
conquering hand！〃
〃Nay； nay； dame； stand back！ Well； if you must needs have one of
them； take this which is the clean one。〃
〃It is the other I crave … that which is red with his blood！ Oh！
joyful night when my lips have been wet with it！ Now I can die in
peace！〃
〃We must go； Aylward；〃 said Simon。 〃In another hour the dawn will
have broken。 In daytime a rat could not cross this island and
pass unseen。 Come； man； and at once！〃
But Aylward was at the woman's side。 〃Come with us； fair dame；〃
said he。 〃Surely we can； at least； take you from this island； and
no such change can be for the worse。〃
〃Nay；〃 said she； the saints in Heaven cannot help me now until
they take me to my rest。 There is no place for me in the world
beyond； and all my friends were slain on the day I was taken。
Leave me； brave men； and let me care for myself。 Already it
lightens in the east； and black will be your fate if you are
taken。 Go； and may the blessing of one who was once a holy nun go
with you and guard you from danger！〃
Sir Robert Knolles was pacing the deck in the early morning； when
he heard the sound of oars； and there were his two night…birds
climbing up the side。
〃So； fellow；〃 said he； 〃have you had speech with the King of
Sark？〃
〃Fair sir； I have seen him。〃
〃And he has paid his forfeit？〃
〃He has paid it； sir！〃
Knolles looked with curiosity at the bag which Simon bore。 〃What
carry you there？〃 he asked。
〃The stake that he has lost。〃
〃What was it then？ A goblet？ A silver plate？〃
For answer Simon opened his bag and shook it on the deck。
Sir Robert turned away with a whistle。 〃'Fore God！〃 said he； 〃it
is in my mind that I carry some hard men with me to Brittany。〃
XIX。 HOW A SQUIRE OF ENGLAND MET A SQUIRE OF FRANCE
Sir Robert Knolles with his little fleet had sighted the Breton
coast near Cancale； they had rounded the Point du Grouin； and
finally had sailed past the port of St。 Malo and down the long
narrow estuary of the Rance until they were close to the old
walled city of Dinan； which was held by that Montfort faction
whose cause the English had espoused。 Here the horses had been
disembarked； the stores were unloaded； and the whole force
encamped outside the city； whilst the leaders waited for news as
to the present state of affairs； and where there was most hope of
honor and profit。
The whole of France was feeling the effects of that war with
England which had already lasted some ten years； but no Province
was in so dreadful a condition as this unhappy land of Brittany。
In Normandy or Picardy the inroads of the English were periodical
with intervals of rest between； but Brittany was torn asunder by
constant civil war apart from the grapple of the two great
combatants； so that there was no surcease of her sufferings。 The
struggle had begun in 1341 through the rival claims of Montfort
and of Blois to the vacant dukedom。 England had taken the part of
Montfort； France that of Blois。 Neither faction was strong enough
to destroy the other； and so after ten years of continual
fighting； history recorded a long ineffectual list of surprises
and ambushes； of raids and skirmishes； of towns taken and retaken；
of alternate victory and defeat； in which neither party could
claim a supremacy。 It mattered nothing that Montfort and Blois
had both disappeared from the scene； the one dead and the other
taken by the English。 Their wives caught up the swords which had
dropped from the hands of their lords； and the long struggle went
on even more savagely than before。
In the south and east the Blois faction held the country； and
Nantes the capital was garrisoned and occupied by a strong French
army。 In the north and west the Montfort party prevailed； for the
island kingdom was at their back and always fresh sails broke the
northern sky…line bearing adventurers from over the channel。
Between these two there lay a broad zone comprising all the center
of the country which was a land of blood and violence； where no
law prevailed save that of the sword。 From end to end it was
dotted with castles； some held for one side； some for the other；
and many mere robber strongholds； the scenes of gross and
monstrous deeds； whose brute owners； knowing that they could never
be called to account； made war upon all mankind； and wrung with
rack and with flame the last shilling from all who fell into their
savage hands。 The fields had long been untilled。 Commerce was
dead。 From Rennes in the east to Hennebon in the west； and from
Dinan in the north to Nantes in the south； there was no spot where
a man's life or a woman's honor was safe。 Such was the land； full
of darkness and blood； the saddest； blackest spot in Christendom；
into which Knolles and his men were now advancing。
But there was no sadness in the young heart of Nigel； as he rode
by the side of Knolles at the head of a clump of spears； nor did
it seem to him that Fate had led him into an unduly arduous path。
On the contrary； he blessed the good fortune which had sent him
into so delightful a country； and it seemed to him as he listened
to dreadful stories of robber barons； and looked round at the
black scars of war which lay branded upon the fair faces of the
hills； that no hero of romances or trouveur had ever journeyed
through such a land of promise； with so fair a chance of knightly
v